I just upgraded to a 2011 13" MB Pro from my 2007 White Non-Unibody Macbook, and thought that a casual user may find this review helpful. I'm not a power user. I cannot speak to all of the issues of graphics processors or dual core v. quad core processors that populate the discussion base of these forums. I email. I browse the web. I do some word processing for work. I play with iphoto (We have over 40GB of pictures). And I keep all our music on itunes (streamed to the home through Airtunes).
Truth be told, I did not need the upgrade. My Macbook was working perfectly fine (and still does for my wife), but I realized that the time had come for a second computer.
I'd read a number of reviews, posts, and forum discussions about the pros and cons of each model, and narrowed my choice down to the recently updated 13" Macbook Pro and the 13" MacAir. I wanted something I could sit on the couch and use - the 15" and 17" seemed too large for that task. (And the 13" was much cheaper). I liked the idea of having a sub 3lb. computer, and read all of the posts and watched the youtube videos showing the MB Air's quick start time due to the SSD Drives. However, with the MB Air, I'd have to give up the latest processor, the connectivity (incl. Thunderbolt if ever a device is released) and the DVD drive. (I'd also have less HD space, and 2MB less Ram unless I upgraded $).
I found myself in the Apple Store turning the MB Pro and the MB Airs off and on again. (There was maybe a 10 second difference between the two). I played with both of them, but in the end decided that the base model 13" MB Pro was the best choice for me. It was recently updated with the SandyBridge Processor, and still light enough (4.5 lbs) to tote around. Also, the MB Pro felt sturdier, though I'm sure that they both hold up well.
I've had this computer for approximately one week. It looks great, is blazing fast, and I have not had any problems with overheating or crashing as reported with the 15" (though I hear that the latest update addresses this). In short, emailing, web browsing, photo organizing, and itunes play all work GREAT! I suspect that the standard configuration will be more than sufficient for the majority of potential buyers.
One final word - Thanks to the posters over the last several weeks who answered my questions without knowing it. Migration was very easy, as many in this forum have advised. I'd also like to thank the many posters who pointed out that for users like me, there was no need to upgrade to the i7 processor, and that while SSD is great for application startups, apps already start pretty quickly and is fine for most people.
Hope this review is helpful to those trying to discern whether the i7, 8GB Ram and SSD upgrades are really necessary for updating their Facebook Page.
Truth be told, I did not need the upgrade. My Macbook was working perfectly fine (and still does for my wife), but I realized that the time had come for a second computer.
I'd read a number of reviews, posts, and forum discussions about the pros and cons of each model, and narrowed my choice down to the recently updated 13" Macbook Pro and the 13" MacAir. I wanted something I could sit on the couch and use - the 15" and 17" seemed too large for that task. (And the 13" was much cheaper). I liked the idea of having a sub 3lb. computer, and read all of the posts and watched the youtube videos showing the MB Air's quick start time due to the SSD Drives. However, with the MB Air, I'd have to give up the latest processor, the connectivity (incl. Thunderbolt if ever a device is released) and the DVD drive. (I'd also have less HD space, and 2MB less Ram unless I upgraded $).
I found myself in the Apple Store turning the MB Pro and the MB Airs off and on again. (There was maybe a 10 second difference between the two). I played with both of them, but in the end decided that the base model 13" MB Pro was the best choice for me. It was recently updated with the SandyBridge Processor, and still light enough (4.5 lbs) to tote around. Also, the MB Pro felt sturdier, though I'm sure that they both hold up well.
I've had this computer for approximately one week. It looks great, is blazing fast, and I have not had any problems with overheating or crashing as reported with the 15" (though I hear that the latest update addresses this). In short, emailing, web browsing, photo organizing, and itunes play all work GREAT! I suspect that the standard configuration will be more than sufficient for the majority of potential buyers.
One final word - Thanks to the posters over the last several weeks who answered my questions without knowing it. Migration was very easy, as many in this forum have advised. I'd also like to thank the many posters who pointed out that for users like me, there was no need to upgrade to the i7 processor, and that while SSD is great for application startups, apps already start pretty quickly and is fine for most people.
Hope this review is helpful to those trying to discern whether the i7, 8GB Ram and SSD upgrades are really necessary for updating their Facebook Page.
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